House

Rep. Demings, former police chief, urges review of police practices after death of George Floyd

by Marty Johnson - 05/29/20 10:50 AM ET

Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) bluntly posed a question to the country’s law enforcement in a Washington Post op-ed Friday: “What in the hell are you doing?”

Demings’s op-ed comes after George Floyd, a 46-year-old black Minneapolis man, died Monday after a white police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck after arresting and handcuffing him. Video of the scene shows Floyd repeatedly saying that he couldn’t breathe, but the officer didn’t remove his knee from Floyd’s neck, even after Floyd was unconscious. Floyd’s death sparked national outrage and unrest across Minneapolis and other parts of the country.

Demings herself is a former police officer, serving as the Orlando Police Department’s chief from 2007-11.

“When citizens were in trouble (if they had to call the police, they weren’t having a good day), they called really believing that when we arrived, things would get better. That they would be safe,” Demings wrote. “But we are painfully reminded that all too often, things do not get better. Matter of fact, they can get much worse — with deadly results.”

She added, “We all know that the level of force must meet the level of resistance. We all can see that there was absolutely zero resistance from George Floyd. He posed no threat to anyone, especially law enforcement.”

Demings wasn’t finished, saying that the officers involved in Floyd’s death must be “held accountable through the criminal-justice system.”

The four cops who were involved have yet to be arrested, only adding to outrage around the country. The FBI has said that it will open an investigation regarding Floyd’s death. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday in a press briefing that President Trump was being briefed on the situation by Attorney General William Barr.

“My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost loved ones. But we must also offer justice through full and swift accountability — not just for their loved one, but for the future,” Demings said.

Continuing, she said, “The senseless deaths of America’s sons and daughters — particularly African American men — is a stain on our country. Let’s work to remove it. … We have got to get this one right. Our communities, good police officers and generations yet to come deserve it.”